Condenser for refrigerating systems



March 5, 1935. J. H. H. Voss CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed March 22, 1952 4 Sheets-Shea?l l La, z

ATTORNEY March 5, 1935.

J. H. H. VOSS CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed March 22, 19521 4 sheets-sheet 2 R. l n u v/.l

March 5, l1935. J. H, H. Voss 1,993,390

CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed March 22, 19:52 4 sheets-sheet 5 "l1111111l@1111111111111IIHIIIIILIIIIIIIII/lll ATTORNEY March 5, 1935. J. H. H. vosls 1,993,390

GoNDENsER FOR REFRIGERATING SYSTEMS Filed March 22, 1952 '4 sheets-sheet 4 ATTORNEY 55 denser.'-

Patented Mar. 5,'1935 -l ',"UNITED STATES mriirrr OFFICE Johann Heinrich Hermann Voss,

white Plains, N. Y.

Application March v22, 1932, Serial No. 600,418 1o claims. (c1. 257-35) This invention relates to an improvement in Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail view of the condensers designed more Aparticularly for the upper part of the condenser as shown in Figure 2. condensation of ammonia or other liqueable Fig. 7a is a sectional detail view of the flush fergases used as heat carrying agents in refrigeratrule.

, ing cycles. Fig. 8 is a top view of the spaced ferrule in the 5 The improved-condenser is directed more par-l condenser, in Figure 7. ticularly to a means for eiecting a complete sepa- Fig. 9 is an elevation partly in section of another ration of the lubricating oil from the .gaseous re- Ainodiied form of condenser. y frigerating agent in such a manner that the lsepa- Fig. 10 is a section on line 10--10 of Figure 9.

10 ration takes place within the condenser structure; Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the complete. conlo a particular detail 0f the improvement residing in denser installation, showing a plurality of conthe provision of means whereby the oil separation denser units constructed according to my invenoccurs during that phase of the condensing procs tion seen along line 11-11 of Figure 13. ess in which the so-called Super-heat is taken Fig. 12 is a side elevation thereof seen along v15 out of the high pressure gas. This particular deline 12-12 of Figure 13, Y f 15 tail resides in the provision 0f means whereby the Fig. 13 is an plan view of a comp1ete condenser lubricating Oil iS trapped and'separated, ready t0 installation showing a plurality of condenser be drawn off, before the partly cooled refrigeratunits. ing agent reaches that part of the condenser The condenser shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 7, and

StllletilleinWlliCll it iS lnally liqlleed- 8, embodies two horizontal headers, the upper 20 A further Object of the invention is the DIO- header 10 and thelower header 11. They are in vision of means f whereby the nonseendensebIe communication through the intermediary of a gases present in the refrigerating cycle, are sepaplurality 0f vertical tubes 12, rated from the refrigerant and are trapped with- These 'tubes are connected by welding to the in the condenser structure in such a manner that lower surface of the upper header, as at 13, and 25 they are confined to a space from which they may to the iop surface of the lower header, as at 14. be easily Withdrawn, but from Which they Cannot The ends of the tubes reach almost ,to the opreturnt intermingle With lthe Satlllfted gas 01 posite' side, of the header and leave just space the gas in process of condensation in other parts enough to allow 9, free passage 0f the entering of the condenser structure. hot gas or the leaving condensed liquid refrigerat- 30 A still further Object of the invention is the ing agent. .withinthe tubes 12 are provided the provision 0f means whereby the high Pressure 1'6- inner tubes 15 so as to just allow a narrow ringfrigerant is passed through intercommunicating space 16 bei-,Ween tubes l2 and 15 yet independent ringspaees formed between e011- 'rne tubes 15 extend c1ear through bonn headers centrical tubes andl condensed by means of a. and serve as cooling means for the hot gases pass- 35 thin .Stream of coohng water running downward' 'ing through ring-space 16. VV'I'he hot gas enters 1y by graflty over the .tube surfaces .opposlte to into the upper header at 1'7 and is cooled the confining tube surfaces of the refrigerant. there by a Water coding arrangement gene-rally These and other objects of my invention will Y designated as at 18 which will be descr1bed laterA 40 become more fully known as the descnptmn pro on. The hot gasis, therefore, cooled down to a sr'ndcE-llglen be specmcauy dened m the point where it has given up all or the larger ipart The invention is illustrated in the accompanyof its lsuper'hea't" Dm'mg this time the lubncat' ing drawings, in which: ing oil is deposited m thelower part of the upper Fig, 1 is a View in elevation, partly in sectin, header from where it can be withdrawn through 45 showing the improved condenser. the oil-drain pipe 19,'whi1e the partly cooled gas Fig. 2 is a cross-section'on line 2--2 of Figure 1. enters the ring-space 1'6, andl is condensed to a Fig. 3 is atop view of Figure l, partly broken liquid, falling down into the lower header ll from away on the line 3-'3 of Figure 1 the water cooling which it can be discharged through pipe 20. The means being omitted. non-condensable foul gases are discharged 50 Fig. 4 is a cross-section of a modified form of a through a. purge outlet pipe 21. y condenser. The separation of the oil in the upper header is Fig. 5 is a top View of same. very veffective due tothe great number of baffles of Fig. 6 is a top View of another form of con- Alarge lsurface which are formed in a most simple and-inexpensive manner by means of the vertical 55 pipes 12 and 15, extending intoor passing through the upper header.

In the improved condenser the purging of the non-condensable or so-called foul gases is provided for in the form of a foul gas trap with a purge outlet at or near the top of the lower horizontal header.

The foul gas is retained in the upper part of the lower header by means of the outer or single pipes extending downward into the; lower header and forming a dome in which the foul gas nds itself trapped and cannot return to mix again with the gas coming from the upper header nor with the liquid, falling downward into the lower header, being separated from the condensing surfaces of the vertical pipes and from the upper headers by the walls of the vertical pipes extending into the lower header.

In those cases where a condenser plant consists of more than one unit it is advisable to equalize the pressure in the different units by means of a comparatively small pipe line connecting the upper headers at or near their top; this equalizing line may conveniently be further connected to the foul gas purge line connecting the different unitsat or near the tops of the lower headers and nally these two pipe lines are interconnected at some point located above the liquid receiver as is well known in the art.

The water cooling means 18 on top of header 10 is built as follows:

A plurality of substantially V-shaped supporting members 22 are welded to the top of header 10 and carry the liquid receiving trough 23. Said trough has perforations 24 in its sides near the top and openings 25 in the bottom, so as to make it possible for the water to flush the upper header in the center as well as on its entire periphery. A splash-apron 26 is set over the top of trough 23 and has holes 27 to allow free passage of the water. The water supply means 28 is mounted above the water trough 23.

Water retaining and guiding ferrules v29 are inserted in the top of the inner tubes 15. The water overflowing from the trough 23 runs down on the walls of the trough 23 and apron 26, as

shown at 15', Figure rI, and covers the entire' fastening point although ithas slot 32 on the top for the passage of the gas.

Figure 5shows an arrangement of a plurality of rows of vertical tubes arranged in staggered relation.

Figure 6 shows these vertical tubes in a singlerow arrangement. A

Water retaining and guiding ferrules 29 (shown in Fig. 8) maybe inserted in the top of the inner tubes `15 and have wingsV 33 mounted thereon for directing some of the water into the inner tube 15.

Figure '7a shows a ilush ferrule in which the lwater. retaining and guiding ferrule 29a projects of a condenser using a single tube 42 as communication between upper header 40 and lower header 41.

The hot gas enters the upper header 40 through the inlet 43, where it is partly cooled while the lubricating oil is deposited and can be withdrawn through pipe 44.

'I'he partly cooled gas enters into the tubes 42 where it is condensed and falls as liquid into the lower header 41. The condensed liquid is withdrawn through outlet 46, while the foul gases are purged through pipe 47. With this arrangement there is no inside-cooling arrangement for the gases provided while passing through tubes 42. The equalizing line 45 is provided at the top of the upper header 40.

As sho-wn in Figures 11, 12 and 13 the hot compressed ammonia gas coming from the compressor through the main discharge pipe -55 passes the oil separator 54 and enters the individual units 12 through the header 56 and is controlled by the valves 60. The liquid ammonia leaves the lower headers of the units 12 through the outlet valve 62 and flows into the liquid receiver 51 through the pipes 61.

The main water header 28 supplies through branches the cooling water into the troughs 23 from where it runs over the condenser units 12. Thelower headers of each unit 12 of the battery are connected by the foul gas purge line 52 which connects with the liquid .receiver 51 and is controlled by valve 53. The tops of the upper headers of units 12 are connected by the equalizing line 48, which is further connected by branch 50 with the foul gas purge line 52 and is controlled by valve 49. The foul gas purge line 52 is-further connected by the pipe 57 to the foul gas purger which may b e conveniently located in the engine room.

The bottoms of the upper headers of units 12 are connected by the oil drain line 58.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the above description by simultaneous reference to the drawings, and it will be clear that the hot gas coming from the compressor upon entering the upper header is cooled to the point where it gives up all or the larger part of its superheat. During this time the lubricating oil is deposited inthe lower part of the upper header from where it can readily be withdrawn through the oil drain pipe while the gas which is partly cooled will enter the ring-space between the outer and inner pipes or the circular space in the single pipe andA will therein be condensed to a liquid falling down into the lower header from where it can be piped into a liquid receiver.

The non-condensable gases are electively trapped in the upper part of the lower header, they are prevented from returning to intermingle with the condensing gas in the ring-spaces and are easily purged at the top ofthe lower header.

The cooling water runs downwardly by gravity from the trough and covers the entire condenser structure where it is exposed to the atmosphere on the outside of the upper header, on the outside of the outer vertical tubes, on the inside of the inner vertical tubes and on the outside of the lower header. 1

The eicacious cooling action of the rapidly descending water surrounding the thin film of the high pressure refrigerant within the vertical tubes is effectively maintained at a high rate of heat transmission by means of the eiectual elimination of the lubricating oil and the non-condensable gases from the area of condensation.

It will be understood that I have described and shown the preferred forms of my invention only as examples of the many possible ways to practically construct my invention, and that I may make Asuch changes in the general construction of its minor details as come within the scope of the appended claims without departure from the spirit of my invention and the principles involved.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A condenser for refrigerating systems comprising an upper and a lower header, a plurality of vertical double, concentrically arranged pipes establishing communication between said headers and supported thereby, the ends of the outside i pipes extending close to the opposite walls of the headers with space enough to allow a free passage of the entering hot gas freed of its superheat the gas being condensed in the space between -the concentric pipes and the condensed liquid refrigerating agent falling into the lower header, said pipes bunched to form a compact single piece condenser.

2. In a condenser for refrigerating systems, an upper header for depriving the hot gas from a compressor of its'superheat, a lower header, a

foul gas trap with a; purge outlet, near the top of said lower header, a dome formed in the upper part of said header for retaining the foul gas to prevent its mixing with the gas coming from the upper header or the liquid from said upper header.

3. In a. Acondenser for refrigerating systems, a

plurality of concentrical tubes having independent yet intercommunicating ring spaces formed therebetween, and means yfor passing a high pressure refrigerant through said spaces to be condensed therein by means of a thin stream of cooling water running downwardly by gravity over the tube surface opposite to the confiningV water sup- `water to guide it into the ringspace between said ferrule and the inner surface of said double pipes causing the water to 'ow downward in the inner pipe and to cool the gas to condensation.

5. In a condenser' for refrigerating systems, upper and lower headers, double walled connecting pipes between said headers, a ferrule and wings on said ferrule extending over a certain width of the upper header.

6. In a condenser for refrigerating systems, up-

per and lower headers, concentric pipes connecting the upper and lower headers extending throughthe upper wall partition of the upper header, the outerv of said pipes partly slotted in its upper part to provide a gas inlet to the ringspace between the two concentric pipes.

7. In a condenser for refrigerating systems comprising a plurality of single pipes supported by headers, an upper water cooled header for depriving the hot gas from the compressor of its super-heat, a lubricating oil trap with a purge Outlet in the lower part of said header, a lower water cooled header, a foui gas trap with a purge outlet, nearl the top of said lower header, a dome formed in the upper part of said header for retaining the foulgas to prevent its mixing with the gas coming from the upper header dr the liquid from said upper header.

8. In a condenser for refrigerating systems comprising a plurality of single pipes supported by headers, an upper water cooledv header for depriving the hot gas from the compressor of its super-heat, a lubricating oil trap with a purge outlet in vthe lower part of said header, a plurality of baiiles of large surface in form of pipes extending into the upper header for the separation of the oil in the same, alower water cooled header, a foul gas trap with a purge outlet, near the top of said lower header, a dome formed in the upper part of said header for retaining .the foul gas to prevent its mixing with the gas coming from the upper header or the liquid from said upper header.

9. In -a condenser for refrigerating systems built up from units, a plurality of upper headers and aplurality of lower headers, vertical pipes extending from the upper headers into the lower headers, a comparatively small pipe line connecting the upper headers near their top for equalizing the pressure-in the different units, a foul gas purge line connecting the units, a liquid receiver with which said foul gas purge line connects, a connection between the equalizing line and the foul gas purge line of the various units near the top of the lower headers, and means of interconnection between the two pipe lines above the liquid receiver.

10. In a condenser for refrigerating systems' as claimed in claim 9, an oil drain line connecting the bottoms of the upper headers of the condenser units for draining the oil directly from 'said units.

JOHANN HEINRICH HERMANN VOSS. 

